As a startup business owner, particularly with an eCommerce site, it can be difficult to predict and estimate the type of web hosting package that is best suited to your needs. Choosing a service that provides the opportunity to grow and expand is important, as startup businesses can go through very rapid periods of expansion where additional resources are not only required but are essential.
When comparing web hosting services as a small eCommerce startup, there are several factors to look at closely. With all top web hosting companies, the uptime should be virtually 100%, and this is standard with the best hosting services.
Comparing Features First
While it may be common wisdom to assume that comparing prices is the most effective way to choose web hosting services, for a business it is really about the features that come with the package.
Most startup eCommerce websites find all the resources they need with a shared hosting plan and perhaps a WordPress hosting plan if using this as your business platform. However, if there is high traffic demand anticipated, or if there are large website requirements or additional security or program requirements a VPS (Virtual Private Server) can be a very effective option to consider.
Take a close look at the storage offered, the number of visits per month, the additional features such as apps and website builders that are included. Databases, email and FTP accounts, domain alias and cloud functions should always be considered. For most businesses, a dedicated IP address may also be an important factor, particularly for eCommerce sites.
Other issues such as PCI compliance so that credit cards can be processed through the website, as well as SSL encryption for secure online payments are also central factors that are offered by web hosting services as part of the basic package price.
